Faunal Lab

Nearly 2,000 pounds of meat are represented by the bones recovered from Well 7511 of the Cypress Project.

ASC has had extensive experience in the excavation of prehistoric and historic-period human remains. We have a staff trained and experienced in the identification and analysis of human skeletal material, including the identification of bone pathologies. In addition, ASC’s NAGPRA program carries out consultations on behalf of clients such as the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and our staff is experienced in the sensitive treatment of issues relating to the handling, repatriation, and reburial of human remains. ASC offers experience and skill in the sorting, identification and analysis of faunal and human skeletal material from both historic and prehistoric archaeological sites. This work includes mammalian, avian, and fish remains. Bone pathologies, butchering practices, and taphonomy are a few of the subjects that are studied.

ASC uses and has refined the BABAS (Bone and Butchering Analysis System), and has applied this technique to prehistoric and historic faunal material from numerous sites throughout California. ASC maintains and constantly expands a comparative collection of native and domestic fauna, and our Collections Facility houses several large, studied, faunal collections. Our staff also makes use of the extensive skeletal collections of the California Academy of Sciences Department of Ornithology and Mammology, and the Department of Ichthyology in San Francisco. ASC staff have extensive experience in specific faunal material and dietary practices such as those commonly found on urban and rural, 19th-and early 20th-century Euro-American, Californio, Basque, and Russian sites. In addition, ASC has particular skill in the identification of faunal material associated with ethnic Chinese archaeological deposits.